Chapter 200
His reasoning made sense.
“Even so, I can hardly believe someone so young could create a work of art like this.”
“That is precisely why I would like to invite the Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company to our family. What do the rest of you think?”
“An excellent idea!”
“If we can get him here, we absolutely should.”
“I’m dying to know how he came up with a formation like this. Let’s send the invitation immediately.”
“Very well. Since everyone agrees, I’ll extend a formal invitation.”
*****
“The Zhuge Family invited me?”
“Yes. They were apparently astonished by the formation inscribed on the Snow-Pattern Box and would like to receive you as an honored guest.”
“Perfect. I needed to visit the Zhuge Family anyway. I was wondering what excuse I could use, and they’ve gone and handed me one.”
“Do you really think Kang Mujin is there?”
“We’ll know once we go. Since we’re already talking about it, let’s leave now.”
“Now?”
“Why? Do you have something to do?”
“Not particularly.”
“Neither do I.”
“Aren’t we taking Baek Ryeongso? It’s been a while since all of us were together. It could be fun.”
“Hmm. He’s probably still enjoying newlywed bliss. Think he’ll want to come? Let’s stop by on the way and ask him.”
“I’m not going.”
“You have to come with us.”
“And where exactly am I supposed to go looking like this?”
Silk robes, neatly combed hair, smooth and gleaming skin.
Anyone who saw Listening-Eye Beggar would have taken him for a distinguished nobleman rather than a beggar.
“You look great.”
“Urgh...”
Listening-Eye Beggar had plenty he wanted to say, but lacked the strength to argue.
“Either way, you’re coming. Otherwise, I’ll ask the Beggars’ Union to replace you with someone else.”
“Haa... Fine. But can I at least change my clothes first?”
“No.”
Listening-Eye Beggar scratched furiously at his head.
His tousled hair immediately settled itself neatly back into place.
“What in the world did you do to my hair? No matter how much I mess it up, it fixes itself.”
“Isn’t that convenient? You don’t even have to take care of it anymore.”
Listening-Eye Beggar had taken to waiting until Jeok Wigang wasn’t looking, then deliberately mussing his hair and wearing his clothes in complete disarray.
So Jeok Wigang had cast sorcery on both his hair and clothing.
There was simply no reasoning with him.
“All right, then. Let’s go.”
Listening-Eye Beggar was practically dragged away, looking as though he would rather be anywhere else.
*****
Three men sat inside a vast chamber in a luxurious mansion.
They were the Merchant Masters of the Central Plains’ three great merchant companies, men who held enormous sway over commerce throughout the realm.
“Why did you ask to meet us?”
“Have you heard of the True Martial Merchant Company?”
“Ah, the merchant company that’s been causing such a stir in Hunan?”
“That’s the one.”
“Come to think of it, our Hunan sales have fallen considerably because of them.”
“Ours as well.”
“That is precisely the problem. For now, they operate only within Hunan. But if they expand later, our position will only continue to shrink. We need to act quickly.”
“Why are you so frightened of them?”
“Are you suggesting we simply sit back and watch?”
“Hahaha. I’m not saying that. I’m saying Hunan is likely the only place they’ll ever be able to operate.”
“What do you mean?”
“Same-day delivery is hardly easy. They need people fast enough to make it possible, and do you truly think prideful martial artists will lower themselves to delivering packages?”
“He has a point. The True Martial Merchant Company must have poured an enormous amount of effort into cultivating experts in lightness arts. But how long do you think that can last? They’re human too. If they keep working their people that hard, sooner or later they’ll wear themselves out. The whole thing will die off naturally.”
“You’ve both been in business far too long to be saying things like that.”
“The Golden Bank has sided with the True Martial Merchant Company.”
At the mention of the Golden Bank, the other two Merchant Masters’ expressions stiffened.
“What are you talking about?”
“What if they use the Golden Bank’s wealth to produce large numbers of experts in lightness arts? Even if they don’t, there are plenty of experts in lightness arts who care about money. These are men willing to do practically anything for a profit. Do you really think they’d refuse something as simple as delivering goods? They’d probably flock to it because the work is easy.”
“Hmm.”
It was hardly impossible.
There were very few things money couldn’t accomplish.
“If what you say is true, then this is serious.”
“Why would the Golden Bank attach itself to such a small merchant company?”
“I’m told the Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company is the master of the Golden Bank’s owner.”
“What nonsense is that? How could that possibly be true? The Golden Bank is the greatest bank in the Central Plains, while the True Martial Merchant Company has only just begun making a name for itself in Hunan. If anything, shouldn’t it be the other way around?”
“Are you sure you didn’t hear it backward?”
“No. I know the owner of the Golden Bank well. We’ve long treated each other as brothers. And I also discovered that Heavenly Martial Castle stands behind the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“We already knew that much. I heard they had severed ties.”
“It doesn’t seem so.”
“If they haven’t, then this really is serious.”
“Now do you understand why I’m in such a hurry? We need to combine our strength and crush the sprout before it has a chance to grow.”
“Do you have a plan? If Heavenly Martial Castle is truly behind them, we cannot make a reckless move.”
“Exactly. If we make an enemy of Heavenly Martial Castle, we’ll be shutting down our businesses that very day.”
“I obtained a very useful piece of information. We can use it.”
“What information?”
“I hear Heavenly Martial Castle is currently in turmoil over the selection of its successor. What if we throw our support behind one faction and help put their candidate in the position of Lord of the Castle? Heavenly Martial Castle would become our backer. With that kind of support, even the True Martial Merchant Company wouldn’t be able to keep expanding just because they have Heavenly Martial Castle behind them.”
“Is that really possible?”
“We’ll have to try, but according to what I’ve learned, our chances are fairly good.”
“Hmm.”
“So? What will you do?”
“If we can secure Heavenly Martial Castle as our backer, I think the risk is worth taking.”
“I agree.”
“Then I’ll go ahead and pave the way. The two of you prepare plenty of money.”
“Very well.”
*****
“I told you, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“Of course I’m coming. We’re going to see Kang Mujin, not some stranger. How could I possibly stay behind?”
Jeok Wigang chuckled.
“Does that look like the face of someone who wants to go? Why would I drag you along when you’re this reluctant?”
Half of Baek Ryeongso’s face looked ready to cry, while the other half looked ready to smile.
“Pick one. Laugh or cry.”
“I can’t seem to control it.”
“You’re that happy?”
“Yes! Elder Brother, you should get married too. The whole world feels different.”
“Later. And it’s still not too late for you. If you want to go back, go now.”
“No! I’m coming.”
Baek Ryeongso finally managed to settle on a single expression, and Jeok Wigang laughed.
“How are the preparations for the move?”
“Everything’s ready. All that’s left is to install it once we arrive.”
“Make sure the martial robes we’ll be selling have space where formations can be inscribed.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make them sturdy. But what kind of formation are you planning to put in them?”
“A [N O V E L I G H T] defensive formation. It should be able to withstand at least two or three attacks at the Profound Realm level.”
Baek Ryeongso’s jaw dropped.
“That’s possible?”
“What do you think? Sounds useful when we fight White Horse Heaven?”
“Of course. And if they attack those bastards from White Horse Heaven using weapons you forged...”
“They won’t have much of a chance.”
“Exactly. We need to make them and distribute them as quickly as possible. We don’t know when White Horse Heaven will arrive.”
The mention of White Horse Heaven immediately sobered the three men.
“Can’t you estimate when they’ll come?”
Jeok Wigang shook his head.
“The Lord of Heaven has to awaken...”
“And we don’t know when that will happen.”
Listening-Eye Beggar quietly absorbed everything they were saying.
“Is it really all right to talk about this so openly in front of that man?”
“It’s fine.”
“At least he dresses well. Who is he?”
“An elder of the Beggars’ Union.”
“What? What kind of beggar walks around dressed like that?”
“He was so filthy that I made him change.”
“Ah! I see. Well done.”
Every time the subject of his clothes came up, Listening-Eye Beggar wanted to crawl into a hole.
“For now, let’s go to the Zhuge Family and see whether Kang Mujin is really there.”
“I hope the information was right.”
“We’ll find out when we arrive.”
*****
Zhuge Ho, Head of the Zhuge Family, greeted Jeok Wigang with a radiant smile.
“Hahaha! Welcome. I sincerely apologize for making you come all this way.”
“Not at all. Thanks to you, I had a pleasant trip and got to enjoy the scenery along the way.”
“I’m grateful you would say so. Please, come inside.”
“Then I’ll impose on your hospitality.”
As Zhuge Ho led Jeok Wigang inside, his gaze flicked toward someone in the group.
That face looked extremely familiar.
Where had he seen it before?
The answer seemed right on the tip of his tongue, which only made it more irritating.
Was his memory getting worse these days?
He had never had this problem before.
“Is something wrong?”
Jeok Wigang’s question startled Zhuge Ho, who immediately apologized.
“My apologies. The gentleman at the back looks extremely familiar, but I simply cannot remember where I’ve seen him. I must have frowned without realizing it.”
“Do you know Listening-Eye Beggar?”
“Hahaha. Of course. He’s an old friend of mine.”
“That’s him.”
“Ha... ha...”
Zhuge Ho’s laughter died in his throat.
His head whipped around.
Now that he looked again, there was no mistake.
“Y-you... What happened to you?”
“It’s a long story. Don’t ask.”
𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Zhuge Ho was still staring blankly in shock when Listening-Eye Beggar spoke.
“You invited guests here. What are you doing? Pull yourself together.”
“Huh? Ah! R-right.”
Zhuge Ho apologized again.
“M-my apologies. I was simply confronted with such a shocking sight...”
“I understand.”
“No, but seriously. How did he end up like that?”
“Grandfather forced him to bathe and change his clothes.”
“The Heavenly Martial Emperor himself? Then he didn’t exactly have a choice.”
That explained everything.
If anyone else had ordered it, Listening-Eye Beggar might have resisted.
But if the Heavenly Martial Emperor had told him to do it, then he did it.
Otherwise, disaster might very well have descended upon the entire Beggars’ Union.
Zhuge Ho quickly lost interest in Listening-Eye Beggar and turned to the question that had been occupying his mind.
“About the Snow-Pattern Box... I heard that you created it yourself, Merchant Master. Is that true?”
“Yes. I made it.”
“Good heavens! Remarkable. I pride myself on knowing a thing or two about formations, yet I could not even begin to understand how that formation operates. Forgive my impertinence, but would you teach me?”
Zhuge Ho gave Jeok Wigang a formal martial salute and bowed respectfully.
Jeok Wigang smiled.
“Of course. I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll show you.”
“Thank you!”
Zhuge Ho, Head of the Zhuge Family, was none other than the Divine Mechanism Scholar, renowned as one of the Central Plains’ great masters of formations.
Yet he did not look down on Jeok Wigang merely because of his youth.
He had invited Jeok Wigang here with the mindset of welcoming a teacher, and he was treating him accordingly.
“You’re being far too formal. Please, relax.”
“Hahaha. I could never do that. They say, ‘A teacher for a single day is a father for life.’”
“They also say that each man must find his own Way. I’m only giving you a little guidance. Whatever enlightenment you gain from it will come entirely from your own talent.”
“And they also say that the debt owed for instruction is as high as heaven and as deep as earth.”
Jeok Wigang could feel Zhuge Ho’s absolute determination not to yield on the matter.
In the end, he was the one who gave in.
“Haa. Fine. Do as you like.”
“Hahaha! Thank you. It’s been a very long time since I met someone who truly speaks my language. I’m in an excellent mood. It seems there is much I could learn from you besides formations. Would you be willing to offer me a little guidance in other fields as well?”
The way Zhuge Ho looked at Jeok Wigang was positively overflowing with affection.